Allelopathic Effect of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh) on the Growth of Pumpkin Crop Plants

Abstract

Allelopathy is the process whereby a certain plant species secretes aparticular biochemical into the environment, which might have afavorable or negative effect on another plant. Allelochemicals aresubstances that are expelled from plant components. The currentexperiment was conducted at Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed tobe University), Mullana-Ambala (Haryana), India during Februaryto May, 2020. The present study revealed that the Eucalyptuscamaldulensis infested soil significantly reduced growth of pumpkinplants. The result showed that the soil significantly decreased vinelength, number of leaves and root length of crop. The maximum vinelength 37 cm, leaves 11, root length 17.7cm and maximum size ofleave 35x30cm were observed in without Eucalyptus infested soil;whereas with the Eucalyptus infested soil the maximum vine length10 cm leaves 4, root length 4cm and maximum size of leave 10x8cmwere observed. The numbers of leaves also reduced per plants inEucalyptus infested soil. Thus the allelochemicals released from theEucalyptus reduces the growth and productivity of pumpkin plantsthan, those cultivated in soil without Eucalyptus infestation. It is apioneer report of Eucalyptus allelopathic potential on the growth ofpumpkin which is one of the important vegetable crops and becauseof the nutritional and medicinal values, it is considered as importantvegetable crop nowadays